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French Revolution, cataclysmic political and social upheaval, extending from 1789 to 1799. The revolution resulted, among other things, in the overthrow of the monarchy in France and in the establishment of the First Republic. It was generated by a vast complex of ....

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.... third estate. After a six-week deadlock, the third estate proclaimed itself a National Assembly with sole power to legislate taxation. The assembly then announced its intentions to draft a constitution. Some representatives of the nobility and clergy joined forces with the assembly, which soon renamed itself the National Constituent Assembly. When Louis, reacting to pressure from the queen and others, concentrated loyal regiments in Paris and Versailles, the people of Paris reacted with open insurrection, storming the Bastille prison on July 14. The Parisian middle class, or bourgeoisie, fearful that the lower classes would seize power, hastily estab ....